Steam & Excursion > Steam/Foamer world dead quiet.

I don't think I've seen or heard a peep about the UP 4014 since it arrived in Cheyenne. I assume it's being disassembled? The C&O 2-6-6-2 is getting all the press right now.
Also haven't heard anything about the ATSF 5000. I don't take the fan mags any more since they all seem to be too diesel oriented for me.
How is 4449's 1472 coming along? 4501 has to be getting close by now. Alaska 557?
Curious in MO.

Out in Perris CA, Ventura County 2 at Orange Empire is on summer hiatus, with various maintenance tasks being attended to. Come September or October, she should be doing her periodic weekend steam operation.

Here's a photo from a couple of years ago. One of the things I like to do at OERM is enlighten visitors on old-school railroad technology. When #2 was coming to the end of a major overhaul, I was able to show interested guests the "innards" of a steam engine. Even though I'm mostly into electric railway operations and maintenance, I've learned enough about steam power to answer questions about locomotives. Although I'm a native of Southern California, I'm not into water sports--I tell people that for me, the two best things to do with water are A) Place it into a large cylindrical pressure vessel mounted on flanged wheels and heat until it reaches a pressure between 150 and 300 psi. B) Gather it in a forebay way up in the mountains and run it through a hydro-electric system, then send the electricity to traction power substations connected to trolley wires.

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The Alaska 557 progress is updated frequently on John Combs' site here:

http://alaskarails.org/pix/former-loco/557/restore/index.html

Also, updates are often posted to the thread about this locomotive on RYPN here:

http://www.rypn.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=32533

Frisco1522 Wrote:
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> How is 4449's 1472 coming along?

Well...it's coming along...slowly. Sadly, it doesn't look like the engine will be ready for Holiday Express this year. Too much work and not enough time or people. They've currently been busy removing some stubborn stud bolts from underneath the firebox to replace the worn-out gaskets. The throat sheet patch has been re-cut and fitted, and now needs to be welded in. New superheater units are still being fabricated, along with all new blow-down piping. Off the top of my head, I'm not sure what else needs to be fixed or inspected at this point. All in all, it's taking a little longer than we thought. But perhaps she'll be back sometime in 2015.

Don I have not seen a single word on ATSF 5000 restoration and that would seem to indicated nothing is going on.

I get several newsletters from the groups I've made donations from.

Not so quiet on my end. But, I agree, it would be nice to hear some
tidbits from other groups here and there.

Always thought it would be a great idea for a regular column in a
railfan magazine. Monthly updates - even if all that was said was
"No change". Something I assume would appear under Cotton Belt #819,
but who knows? Rumor has it a future restoration has not been 100%
ruled out - just as it is well known that N&W #611 was moved back
and forth while on display.

/Mitch

Frisco1522 Wrote:
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> I don't take the fan mags any more since they all
> seem to be too diesel oriented for me.

???

I feel that Trains Magazine does a good job of keeping readers informed about what's happening (or not happening) in steam. It seemed to cover every inch of the 4014 move out of the fair grounds in Los Angeles. I learn more about some steam restoration projects from both the hard copy monthly magazine and weekday e-mail updates than on this site.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/25/14 19:44 by RuleG.

Don't forget the WP 165 blog. A work week was recently completed and a blog update is sure to appear soon.

http://wprrsteam.blogspot.com/



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/25/14 19:12 by trainjunkie.

Then there's the 3463 (as mentioned in TRAINS), it's progressed to Court and we were so
wanting to see it run Tier 4 and 130 mph. Just an added thought, at least everyone now
knows who Hulcher is.

Out



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/25/14 19:11 by callum_out.

Frisco1522 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I don't think I've seen or heard a peep about the
> UP 4014 since it arrived in Cheyenne. I assume
> it's being disassembled? The C&O 2-6-6-2 is
> getting all the press right now.......

After the "wild" past, a break feels ok for now.
3751 performed flawlessly in So Cal in April. It averages a trip per year since restoration in 1991.

tomstp Wrote:
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> Don I have not seen a single word on ATSF 5000
> restoration and that would seem to indicated
> nothing is going on.

I drove by Madam Queen 2 days ago. It didn't look any different than it did a couple of years ago. There were some containers behind the fence. 500 still looks great and even has her headlight and markers lit.

The 261 was recently rolled out and washed. Seems ready to roll for her September trips. I sent a few dollars for the Cedar Rapids Skytop observation car rebuild.

The 611 restoration is fun to read about on Facebook. Many great updates and images.

Al Seever
Phoenix, AZ

Updates, news and photos on ATSF 2926's restoration progress are posted every week or two on their website and linked here on TO.

Frisco1522 Wrote:
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> I don't think I've seen or heard a peep about the
> UP 4014 since it arrived in Cheyenne.
> Curious in MO.


Don,

I doubt much CAN happen with the 4014, since the remaining asbestos in hidden areas must be removed and disposed of first. There are still no new flues/tubes for 844, and the Boilermakes have nothing to do anyway.

I had no idea some people were looking to restore AT&SF 5000. That would be quite a thing to see.

HotWater Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Frisco1522 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I don't think I've seen or heard a peep about
> the
> > UP 4014 since it arrived in Cheyenne.
> > Curious in MO.
>
>
> Don,
>
> I doubt much CAN happen with the 4014, since the
> remaining asbestos in hidden areas must be removed
> and disposed of first. There are still no new
> flues/tubes for 844, and the Boilermakers have
> nothing to do anyway.

The unending personnel turmoil at the shop isn't helping.

Supposedly, 2 more people will be out the door soon, if
not already, plus 2 others looking for jobs elsewhere.

Biggest thing now is removing the ceiling and all
insulation from the shop, as it "didn't look enough
like a real shop." Should be an interesting winter
out there.

kurt765 Wrote:
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> I had no idea some people were looking to restore
> AT&SF 5000. That would be quite a thing to see.

Sorry, but in my opinion that AT&SF #5000 project is a waste of time & effort to rebuild it to running condition. It is a plane bearing engine and no class 1 railroad will let it out on the main lines for any distance.

844 is getting new flues, be next year it looks like, for any action

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dan Wrote:
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> 844 is getting new flues, be next year it looks
> like, for any action

Yea well, she needs a LOT MORE than just "new flues"! So "next year" just might be a MAYBE.

dan Wrote:
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> 844 is getting new flues, be next year it looks
> like, for any action

Whoa! What happened to you and Special Ed claiming it
will run this fall?

As usual, I suspect he has created more problems with
the engine, trying to deflect attention from the no-
blowdowns, poor to almost non existent boiler washes
and inspections, and the resulting mud and scale packed
boiler. This is his baby, but he will never stop
blaming others for his own screw-ups. He OWNS this mess.

This is criminal neglect. He was handed 2 running engines
and a good crew and shop. Now he has none of the above.

If things keep going as they are, there will be no UP steam
in 2015, either.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/26/14 17:44 by Realist.